Oceans of Sand by Jessica Flory

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Oceans of Sand

Series: Sand Traveler #1
Series Rating:
Published by Immortal Works on June 20, 2023
Genres: YA Romance Fantasy
Pages: 332
Format: ebook
Source: the Author
Goodreads
BookBub
Storygraph
Get Your Copy at: Amazon, Books-A-Million
Also in this series: The God Heist, Dunes of Water

One girl. Her boat. An ocean of sand to cross.

Norah’s desert world has always been treacherous, with the roiling ocean of sand, giant scorpions, and brutal sandstorms—but now an unnatural famine plagues the desert nations and threatens to destroy all.

Despite being the only one in her village without a sand gift, Norah is chosen with her best friend, Zadock, to sail across the ocean of sand in search of the legendary moonstone, an artifact that could end the famine.

As Norah and Zadock set off on their journey, secret romantic feelings each has suppressed for years rise to the surface. Love weakens sand gifts, and if they act on their feelings, Zadock's sand gift will disappear.

Caught in a crossfire between forbidden feelings, an unforgiving desert, and starving nations willing to do anything to survive, Norah and Zadock discover the true meaning of sacrifice—and the power that love has to heal the world.

Oceans of Sand by Jessica Flory is centered around two people trying to make the world right again.

Can Norah and Zadock find the legendary moonstone?

Norah Saranyi

Norah Saranyi lives in a world where you are born with a sand gift that helps out their village. Along with that gift, no one can love as love weakens the sand gift. Norah is led to believe that she has no sand gift because none of the other ways work out for her. Norah has secretly loved people for years, but that hasn’t been helping. See, Norah’s world has been experiencing a famine for three years.

One of the things that I like about her is how stubborn she is about anything she thinks is right. Another thing I like about her is how she wants to do what’s best for the people in her village even though no one there cares much about her because she doesn’t have a gift. Except for a select few people, and they have no way to help her figure out what she is. Maybe this legendary moonstone will help figure out what her sand gift is?

Zadock Penvaren

Zadock Penvaren is the strongest Shaker in their village, so he was tasked to help Norah find this stone. His life was much different than Norah’s, but he is still her best friend. Zadock grows into who he is once they get away from the village and where his father, potah, can influence him. Once he is put back under his influence, Zadock tries to please them even if that isn’t what he or Norah wants to happen.

These two are very cute together. I love how they try to stay away from each other, but obviously, that doesn’t work out for them. These two make a great couple.

The Story

Norah and Zadock’s story is both an adventure and a love story. The Adventure because they have a quest to complete and a forbidden love story between the two of them.

Each person born is born with a special sand gift, which usually helps the village out in whatever way their gift can do. They are Shakers – people who can help move ships but also move sand to work well in battle, Absorbers – people who can heal their wounded, Extractors – people who can use the sand to help themselves out or to help out in battle as they use primarily spears, and then lastly they have Forgers – these people can make quartz material or even glass if they are strong enough for that. Everyone in each village has one of these gifts but Norah, which is odd.

For three years, the world has been going through a famine, and somehow Norah and Zadock think bringing back the second moonstone will fix everything. It does, but now something is amiss, and it’s up to Norah to figure it out.

Five Stars

Oceans of Sand by Jessica Flory is a wonderfully written fantastical world. I can’t wait to jump back in it with the second book when it arrives. Ms. Flory is a great writer; I know this book will find a great audience. Norah and Zadock’s story is fantastic, and I love their sand gifts. I am giving Oceans of Sand by Jessica Flory five star rating, and I am encouraging and recommending everyone to buy a copy of the book as it is that wonderful.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Oceans of Sand by Jessica Flory.

Until the next time,

Happy Reading!

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• 2023 Goodreads RC

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